Jesus Lara’s eyes darted around as he strolled across the polished floor, dressed sharply in a black suit and silk tie. Scanning the entryway of the Chicago Teachers Union headquarters, he noticed vibrant blue drapery and yellow lights that spelled out “prom,” igniting his wide smile as he found familiar faces. This marked one of the rare occasions in months when Lara, 18, shared a room with friends and classmates from ASPIRA Business & Finance High School.
Lara, along with his ASPIRA peers, had navigated the last two months attending an unfamiliar school after starting his high school career elsewhere. He finished at Lake View High School, a change prompted by the Chicago Board of Education’s charter revocation in March. This decision impacted students like Lara, a consequence of “systemic fiscal mismanagement,” according to district officials, which led to funding shortages for completing the school year, as CPS officials reported.
Despite ASPIRA leadership frequently contesting these claims in the Tribune, citing declining enrollments and increased labor costs as the network’s financial challenges, the closure of two Avondale schools ensued. Approximately 570 students, including those from ASPIRA Business & Finance High School and ASPIRA Early College High School, transferred to other Chicago public schools.
For ASPIRA seniors, leaving the community they cultivated over four years and adapting to a new school with only months left of their high school journey was daunting. However, Lara’s concerns faded as he reunited with old friends during a prom event organized by CPS and CTU for displaced ASPIRA seniors.
“It’s nice to see them again,” Lara expressed about his friends before the event commenced. “Here, I don’t feel left out like I did at the other school.”
The gathering captured what many graduating ASPIRA students envisioned for their prom early in the school year—a joyful time with classmates. Some struggled with separation at different schools, like senior Esmeralda Navichoque, 18, who moved from ASPIRA Business & Finance to Carl Schurz High School in Irving Park, over a mile away.
Completing her high school tenure at Schurz felt “weird,” she remarked, facing new academic and social dynamics. The ASPIRA prom provided Navichoque an opportunity to reunite with those she’d known for years, aligning with her vision for the event. “I know more people here, which excites me more than the actual school prom I attended,” Navichoque observed.
Another peer, senior Melody Diaz, 18, transferred from ASPIRA Business & Finance to Theodore Roosevelt High School in Albany Park. The shift proved “little hard” for Diaz, noting her classmates’ friendliness but difficulty in forming lasting bonds. Diaz wished for prom with friends from freshman year, rather than newcomers.
The event aimed to allow ASPIRA seniors to celebrate their shared experiences before their eventual high school departure, according to CTU Charter Division Chair Jennifer Conant. Around 70 students attended, enjoying a rapidly planned prom at CTU headquarters equipped with parking and space for a dance and Italian dinner.
Aside from students, ASPIRA teachers and staff participated as chaperones, reconnecting with former students, congratulating graduates, and celebrating prom as if ASPIRA schools remained open. “The event feels different given the recent disruptions,” Conant mentioned. “The receiving schools welcomed students wonderfully, but it doesn’t match ASPIRA seniors’ past routines.”
“I’m pleased they could attend events at welcoming schools and reunite here at CTU, a special luncheon, and graduation this week,” Conant noted.
This sentiment resonated with Yuriel Garcia, 18, another student who transferred from ASPIRA Business & Finance to Schurz High School. He relished the night, enjoying time with former classmates and creating new memories. “It’s been a strange journey since being at Schurz, adjusting to new teachers and navigating classes felt slow,” Garcia shared. “I had some friends there, but not all, so this event is a pleasant gesture for us.”